"Tout ce que je sais, c'est ce que les mots savent, et les choses mortes, et cela constitue une jolie petite somme, avec un début, un milieu et une fin, comme dans la phrase bien construite et la longue sonate des morts."
— Samuel Beckett
Simplified Meaning:
This quote is talking about the knowledge gained from words and the stories of things that no longer exist. Words and stories preserve the essence of things that have passed away, whether they are people, objects, or events. Just like a well-written sentence or a piece of music, everything has a structured flow—a start, a middle, and an end. For example, reading a history book helps us understand past events and figure out their impacts on the present, even though those events are long gone. By learning from these "dead things," we gain a complete and valuable understanding that enriches our own lives. This means that engaging deeply with literature, history, and words can help us live more thoughtfully and meaningfully.
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